Brick-machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. B. WOODWARD. BRICK MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 24, 1885.

(No Model.)

(No ModeL) A. B VVOOIDWARDi 3 Sheets Sheet gr BRICK MACHINE.

No.V 330,953. Patented Nov. 24, 18185.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. i

(No Model.)

' A. B. WOODWARD.

BRICK MACHINE.

.953-v Patmed Nov. 2,4, 1885.

, Attorneys INVENTOR Ma/wm i `7is a detail view of the gage.

NirEn STATES PATENT @inercia ABEL B. wooDwABD, or" NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,953, dated November24. 1885.

Application filed September 29, 1885. Serial No. 178,555.

, To (LZZ' whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABEL B. WooDwARD,

. a citizen of the United States, residing' at Nash- ImprovementinBrick-Machines, of which the following is a specication, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has relation to improvements in brick-making machinery; andthe novelty consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement,combination, and adaptation of the various parts for service,substantially as hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure l is a side elevation of my improved brick-machine. Fig. 2 is anend elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through one setof the plungers and their operating mechanisms on the line w x ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line g/ y ofFig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mechanism for automaticallyreturning the upper compression-plunger to its normal position to beacted upon by the cams. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the hopper and itsactuating mechanism. Fig. Fig. 8 is a side view o'f the lower cam, andFig. 9 is a view showing my preferred form of driving or sprocket chain.

Like letters of reference iu the several gures of the accompanyingdrawings denote corresponding parts.

The invention is especially designed as an improvement in that class ofbrick-making 4 machinery known to the art as reciprocatingbrick-machinesg7 and it has for its objects, among other things, toprovide for the bottom or lower platen of the molds or dies by soarranging andtiming the movements of the lower or expelling plunger thatits die shall form the bottom to said molds while the material is beingfed thereto and the upper compressionplunger is acting on the materialin said molds, after which the expelling-plunger forces the compressedand formed brick out of the molds.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved'means forautomatically operlating the reciprocating hopper; to provide (Nomodel.)

Scrapers for cleaning the faces of the plungers from any material thatmay adhere thereto; Ato provide means for automatically returning thecompression-plungers from the molds when released by thedepressing-cams, and to combine simplicity with great strength anddurability in the construction, and which shall be thoroughly effectivevand automatic in operation and without any undue strain or wear uponthe several parts of the machine.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A desiguates the frame of themachine, which comprises four upright posts or pillars, A, secured orbolted at their lower ends upon beams A2, and connectedg at their upperand lower ends by horizontal beams or bars A3, and intermediatelybetween such upper and lower beams by horizontal beams A4. Bolts arepassed through the posts or pillars, and have their ends threaded toreceive nuts a, to tighten the tension under which the frame is heldtogether.

B designates the molds, arranged in the plane of and secured in anysuitable manner to the beams A4, and arranged in series in a horizontalplane. The moldSB are provided with guides b, which depend from theirlower surfaces at the side edges and ends thereof, and between theseguides moves the frame of the expelling-plunger G, arranged bellow themolds and adapted to be forced upwardly therein.

D designates the upper compressiouplunger, arranged above the plane ofthe molds and adapted to loe forced downwardly therein.

E designates a shaft journaled in proper journal boxes or bearings,@secured to the Y' lower horizontal beams ofthe machine-frame. Thisshaft E carries two cam-wheels, FX, near its middle, beneath thereciprocating expelling-plunger, and at its ends it projects beyoud theframe A and carries a sprocketcams F', arranged at different angles totheir shaft than the cams of the shaft E, and to work or operate ontheir plungers at a different time. This shaft F is extended beyond itsbearings in the main frame, and carries a sprocket-wheel, F2, at eachend, similar in construction and size to the sprocketwheels of the shaftE, with which they are geared or connected by a sprocket-chain, G, thepreferred form of which I illustrate in detail in Fig. 9. The lowerexpelling-plunger, C, comprises a bar, c, having a series of platens,c', on its upper. surface, and on its lower surface it is provided withdepending arms c2, which are arranged between the guides b of the moldsand are free to slide or reciprocate up and down therein.

c? c3 designate friction or bearing rolls loosely or rotativel ymountedin the lower ends of arms c2 of the expelling-plunger, andnormally kept in contact with the cams E', the frame of theexpelling-plunger being drawn downwardly by gravity until its bearingfric- :the compression plunger.

tional rolls c3 cOme in contact with the cams E', by which said plungeris held in position and reciprocated to perform its office or duty inexpelling or forcing the compressed brick 4from the molds B.

The upper compression-plunger, D, is arranged between guides or ways D,secured to the upper horizontal beams, A3 A, above the plane of themoldsB, to leave an intermediate space for the passage of a reciprocat-inghopper, I,said guides D receiving the frame of This plunger is similarin its construction tothe expellingplunger. It has a baror platen, d,having projecting dies d on its lower surface and guide-arms d2 arrangedbetween the guides D', the upper ends of saidarms d2 being bifurcated toembrace the shaft F, with which they are arranged in closejuxtaposition.

d3 designates friction or bearing rolls pivoted or hung loosely in theguide-arms d2, above the bar d thereof, and adapted to be operated upon`by the cams Fvto force the dies of the platen into the molds ktocompress the material fed thereto by the hopper.

The guides D are lprovided with protecting and guiding strips or` wallsat their sides, as shown, andl the'shaftsl of the rollers d3 are pro-Ljectedthrough'vertical slots f', formed or cut in the end guides, D',and receive a frictionroller, f z, the ofce 4and'function of which willappear .more fully hereinafter.

The vibrating or reciprocating hopper I comprises two casings andchambers at right angles to each other, to receivey the clay or otherymaterial from a condu ctingspout, said hopper I having supporting-barst' at its ends, arrangedto bear -on the-upper surface of the mold at theside edges thereof, and work in guides I', secured to the molds,as-'shown.

`J designates' a rock-shaftjournaled in bearings 'j,secured to the frameA, and having arms J at each end projecting inwardly, and arranged inthe plane of rotation to be struck or operatedby curved-operating-platesK, se-

cured to each of the sprocket-wheels of the shaft E. The arms J arearranged at different angles to their supporting-shaft J, and are eachprovided with a looselymounted friction-wheel, j,adapted to besuccessively struck or operated by'therarms of the sprocket-wheels forthe purpose of forcing and retracting the hopper I forward and backwardfrom the molds. Ihe krock-shaft J is connected with the hopper I bymeans of upright bars or standards L,arranged at each side of the mainframe, and having'an opening in its upper end, and through this openingof each of the bars L passes the outer threaded end of an arm, L', whichreceives the two nuts e2, arranged to bear on opposite sides of theslotted end ofthe bar L, to adjustably connect the said bar to thehopper I to vary or regulate the length of movement or stroke of thehopper, the inner ends of the arm L being pivotally connected at eachside of the hopper thereto.' The arms or plates K are arranged at avarying angle to the sprocket-wheels on which they are mounted, so as tobe successively brought to strike against and oscillate the arms of therock-shaft, one of said plates striking against one of the arms to forcethe hopper inwardly to the molds, yand justsuiflcient time is allowed topermit of such inward movement and discharge of the clay or othermaterial into the molds before .the opposite arm or plateK strikes theopposite arm oftherock-shaft to draw the hopper rearwardly away from themolds, this operation being continued as long as the machine vis inmotion. The sprocket-wheels F2of the upper cam-shaft, F,are providedwith lifting arms or brackets M, each sprocketwheel having one of saidbrackets arranged on its inner surface at the periphery thereof. saidarms or brackets M is arranged in the are of IOO rlhe main portion of acircle concentric with the outer periphery of the sprocket-Wheels, whiletheir forward ends are tapered, as at m, and their rear Iendsbev- IIOeled or rounded off, as at m', to permit the device to readily takeunder and leave the friction-rollersf of the upper compression-plunger,to elevate said plunger and withdraw its dies from engagement with themolds, to

permit the compressed brick to be dischargedl elevated Vout ofengagement with the molds and in contact with the cams F,operatin`g to'depress or force the compression-plunger into the molds, su chautomatic elevating device permitting of the depression of such plunger.

N designates two plates arranged in a ver- L tical position alongside ofthemain frame, above the -roller-shaft of the rollers f', the

lower ends of said plates being bifurcated, to embrace the journal-pinof said rollers f and be connected thereto. rlhe upper ends of theplates N, which are adapted to move vertically with. the uppercompression-plunger, are pivotally connected to the bent ends of thearms of a vertically-sliding bail, N', which projectsabove the plane ofthe upper periphery of the sprocketwheels F2. The arms of this bail Nare arranged to pass through slots or recessed portions of the upperhorizontal beam, A3, of the frame, and be thus guided in its verticalmovements, and said bail carries a rigid arm, a, arranged in ahorizontal position at right angles to the bail, this arm beingfulcruined at or near its middle on a supporting bracket or arm, O',secured to and projecting from the main frame, said arm or beam n havinga weight, O, at its outer extremity. It will thus be seen that theweighted arm n will keep the vertically-sliding plate and bail normallypressed upward,and consequently the compression-plunger, and keep thefrictionrolls thereof in engagement with the cams F', and the dies ofthe platen thereof elevated out of the forming-molds. I have found byexperiment that this plunger actuating or lifting device, whichcomprises the plate, bail, and weighted arm, will give good andbeneficial results; but to insure harmony and ease of action withoutsubjecting the parts thereof to any undue strain or wear, I have deemedit best, although not essential, to employ the lifting brackets or armsM, arranged on the sprocket-wheels F2, and adapted to operate, inconnection with such automatic lifting device, to lift thecompression-plunger whed' the cams F have ceased to act on thefrictionrollers thereof.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Clay or other material isfed to the reciproeating hopper, and the machine is started by applyingpower to one of the sprocket-wheels of the shaft E. The rotation of saidsprocket wheels causes one of the curved arms or plates K thereof tostrike one of the arms J of the rock-shaft J, which is thus oscillated,and communicates its motion to the reciprocating hopper I to force itforward. Simultaneously with the forward movement of the hopper thelower expelling-plunger is forced upwardly by the cams E into the moldsto form bottoms or platens thereto, and the upper compressionplunger isalso simultaneously withdrawn from said rolls by the joint action of theweighted lever and the lifting-brackets, or by either one ofthem-independently of each other, the projecting rib .or cam surface onthe cams F being withdrawn, or turned so as to be out of engagement withfriction-rollers of said compression-plunger. rIhe other curved arm orplate K now cornes in contact with the other arm of the rockshaft,causing it to turn or oscillate in its bearings in the opposite orreverse direction toits first movement, and withdrawingthe hopper fromthe molds to receive a new charge of clay orother material. The

cams F are now brought to act or bear on the compressionplunger andforce the same down into the molds onto the surface of the materialtherein to compress the same firmly and compactly, the lowerexpelling-plunger remaining stationary during these two lattermovements. The compression-plunger is no'w withdrawn from the molds, andsimultaneously with such withdrawal thereof the lower expelling-plungeris moved upwardly into the molds by the revolution of the cams Eto forcethe compressed and formed brick from the molds, and when the bricks havebeen completely elevated out of the molds they are forced onto acarrying or discharging device (not shown) by the forward movement ofthe reciprocating hopper, which has been again actuated by the plates Kand rock-shaft J. When the hopper is at its forward stroke, the lowercompression-plunger drops to its normal position to form the bottom tothe molds, said frame droppingby gravity whenthe cams have beenrevolved; and these successive steps in the operation of the machine arecontinued in order to compress the brick, the whole operation beingperformed automatically and without requiring the presence of anattendant.

Any preferred `form of conveying apparatus may be employed to carry theformed pressed bricks away from the machine; but as such a device doesnot constitute part of the present invention, I have not deemed itnecessary to illustrate the same. A11 idle wheel or pulley, I), mountedon a pin or shaft, p, supported in the main frame, is employed to bearagainst the endless traveling belt G, connecting the sprocket-wheels EF2, to keep the belt taut and under proper tension, one pulley P beingemployed to4 each belt. The pulley or wheel may be made adjustable tovary the tension of said belt.

The upper and lower edges of the front end of the vibrating orreciprocating hopper I are provided with scraping-blades Q, arranged toclean or clear the lower and upper faces of the compression andexpelling pluugers of any 4clay or other material that may adherethereto, such clearing operation being performed by the blades when thelower plunger forces or expels the brick from the molds, and the upperplunger is withdrawn therefrom.

I do notV desire to limit myself to the particular construction shownand'described, as I am aware that many changes may be made therein andin the form and proportions of the various parts without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, theessential features of which have been explained and will be readilyunderstood lfrom the foregoing description, taken in connection with thedrawings.

A casing or shield, lt, is secured to the guides b of the molds toprotect and guide the friction-rollers of the gravitatingexpellingplunger. i i

In Fig. 7 I show a gage for regulating the IOO IIO

IIS

. tail one of the cams on the lower shaft for actuating the lowergravitating expelling-plun-A depth which the platens of the lowerexpelling-plunger lie in the mold. The lower faces of the arms c2 ofsaid lower expelling-plunger are beveled and engage the beveled face ofa supporting gage-block, S, rigidly secured to the squared portion of ashaft, S', bearing atits ends in supports s, secured to the main frame,and having one of its ends threaded and provided with an adjusting-nut,S2. Ihe shaft is free to turn in its bearings, and can be adjusted backand forth therein to bring the beveled face of the gage-block nearer toor farther from the center of the lower beveled supporting-arms, c2, ofthe gravitating expellinglunger.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings I have shown in deger. The outer periphery ofeach of the lower cams has three bearing points or surfaces, tit/t2, atdifferent distances from the center and concentric therewith. The rstofthe bearingsurfaces, t, is in engagement with the frictionroller of theexpelling-plunger after it has returned to its normal position afterexpelling or forcing the brick from the molds, and said cam-surfaceserves to hold the platens of said plunger in the bottom of the molds toform the bottoms thereto when the earth or clay has been deposited inthe molds by the hopper. The second bearing-surface, t', is at alittlegreater distance from the center of the cam and projects beyond theperiphery of the surface t, and serves to advance the lower .plunger inthe molds for a short distance, and

operates to elevate said lower plunger simultaneously with downwardstroke of the upper compression-plunger, and thus serves to compress theclay or earth in a slight degree by shortening the distance between thetwo plungers, which is important when dry earth is fed to the molds, andthe third extended bearing-surface, t2, lies at a greater distancebeyond the center of the cam than either of the surfaces tt, and at adistance from the latter surface, t, equal to the distance which theplatens of the expelling-plunger lie from the tops of the molds when thematerial is being compressed therein, and said cam-surface t2 acts toforce the lower expelling-plunger upward to force out the brick from themolds simultaneously with the withdrawal of the compression-plungertherefrom, all as will be very readilyunderstood.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a brick-machine, the combination,with the molds, of a lowerexpelling-plunger, a compression-plunger, and an automatic liftingdevice connected with said compression-plunger for holding the samenormally from engagement with the molds, substantially as described.

2. ln a brick-machine, the combination of the molds, acompression-plunger, a shaft having cams for depressing said plunger,and

lifting devices mounted on the cam-shaft and separate from thecompression-plunger,to elevate saidplunger out of the molds at theproper interval, substantially as described.

3. In a brick-making machine, the combination,with the molds,of agravitating expellingplunger,a compression-plunger normally held fromengagement with the molds, two shafts having cams mounted in themachine-frame beneath and above the expelling and compression plungers,and an automatic lifting device connected with and separate from saidcompression-plunger, to keep the same` normally in engagement with itsactuating camshaft, substantially as described.

4. In a brick-making machine, the combination,with the molds,of agravitating expellingplunger, an upper compression-plunger, camshaftsarranged beneath'and above the expelling and compression plungers andgeared together, lifting arms or brackets mounted on the cam-shaft ofthe compression-plunger,and a weightedarm and intermediate connectionspivotally secured to the shaft of the compression-plunger at each endthereof, substantially as described.

5. In a brick-machine, the combination of the molds having dependingguides, a gravitating expelling plunger working in said guides andhaving frictional rolls, guides for the upper compressionplunger, acompression plunger carrying frictional rolls at its middle, and havingfriction-rolls arranged thereon exterior to the guides of said plunger,cam-shafts for ,said plungers, geared together, and lifting device forsaid compression-plunger, arranged to act on the outer friction-rollsthereof, substantially as described.

Y 6. In a brick-making machine, the combination of aframe, molds mountedtherein,the compression and expelling plungers, cam-shafts for actuatingsaid plungers and carrying sprocket-wheels,an endlesstraveling beltconnecting said cam-shaft sprocket-wheels, a reciprocating hopperarranged to move between the plungers,a rock-shaft mounted in the frameand having arms connected with the hopper, and operating-plates securedt0 the sprocketwheels of the lower cam-shaft and arranged tosuccessively operate the rock-shaft to oscillate the same and thehopper, substantially as described.

7. In a brick-making machine, the combination of aframe, molds mountedtherein, a compression and expelling plunger, shafts having cams mountedin the frame for operating the plungers, and carrying sprocket-'wheelsgeared together, Aa reciprocating hopper having guides working betweenthe plungers and carrying scraping-blades, a rock-shaft mounted in theframe and having arms carrying frictional rolls, operating-platesmounted on the sprocket-wheels of the lower cam-shaft and arranged tosuccessively strike the frictional IIO rolls of the rock-shaft arms,upright bars secured to the rock-shaft and having slotted ends, and armspivotally connected to the hopper and having threaded ends carryingnuts, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the compressionplunger having its frictionalrollershaft eX- tended,and the slotted guides therefor, of avertically-sliding plate connected to said shaft at each end thereof, abail pivotally connected to each plate, a bracket secured to the frameof the machine at the sides thereof, and a weighted arm mounted in eachof said brackets and connected to thebail-arm, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a brick-machine, the combination of a frame, a mold or moldsmounted therein, a gravitating expelling plunger arranged to form abottom to said mold or molds, a compression-plunger, lifting devicestherefor separate from the compressing devices, a reciprocating hopperarranged to move between the plungers and over the mold or molds, andmeans, substantially as described, whereby the compression-plunger iswithdrawn from the molds simultaneously with the upward movement of theexpelling-plunger and the forward movement of the reciprocating hopper,substantially as described.

l0. In a brick-machine, the combination, with the molds and thecompressing and eX pelling devices, of a reciprocating bottomless hopperhaving closed ends and sides to provide a preliminaryforming-chamber,aud having a receiving throat communicating therewithand arranged at an angle thereto to conduct the earth into said hopper,substantially as described.

1l. In a brick-machine, and in combination with the molds and theexpelling and compression plungers, a shaft having cams for actuatingsaid plungers, each cam of the eX- pelling-plunger shaft having threeraised portions that lie at different distances from the center thereof,and are successively brought to act upon the expelling-plunger tomaintain the same normally within the molds, to form a bottom thereto,to slightly elevate the said plungers simultaneously with the downwardstroke of the compression-plunger into the molds, andto force or expelthe brick from the molds simultaneously with the Withdrawal of thecompression-plunger therefrom, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABEL B. `WOODWARD.

Witnesses:

E. G. SIGGERs, WM. N. MOORE.

